Progress on Maggie's quilt

While Greg was gone I was able to sew quite a bit since I had most of the evenings alone after the kids were in bed.  After the third evening, I had completed the purple blocks and was already pinning the small yellow squares together.  Everything was going along really well until Thursday afternoon.  I was halfway done with the yellow blocks and Greg was back in the country and would be home within hours.  Then, Greg called letting me know that his flight home was cancelled.  Right after that call, I discovered that I had pressed my first seams the wrong way.  Greg ended up helping me rip the seams this weekend and I finally have the seams pressed the right direction and re-pinned.  I always knew that I needed to measure twice and cut once.  Now I know that I need to check my seams twice in order to only press once.  My plan is to finish the yellow blocks this week and be able to start figuring out the layout of the quilt top.

A sample of the finished purple blocks set around one of the blue setting blocks.

Beginning a quilt for Maggie

While I was pregnant with Maggie, Beccy picked out some fabric for me to use to make a new quilt for Maggie's bedroom.  I had told her that I was thinking of lavender and yellow.  When I arrived at Beccy's house she had a stack of beautiful fabric waiting for me.  I then picked out a pattern to use up the fabric.  It was the first time I have picked out a pattern after the fabric was already chosen and I found it a challenge.  I picked out a tutorial from Crazy Mom Quilts called "The Future's So Bright."  However, I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether it will turn out great or be a complete mess.  I guess I will have to keep putting everything together in order to find out.  This quilt will be my first quilt set on point and I love learning something new with each quilt I make.  

   So far, I have cut out all of the pieces for the top and have sewed the setting squares as well as the smaller purple 4 patch squares.  This week, while Greg is gone, I hope to complete the purple blocks and start on the yellow 4 patch squares.

setting blocks

small purple 4 patches

Car Seat Covers

Besides welcoming Maggie this summer, we knew several other people who were having babies this summer.  I wanted to make handmade gifts and I decided to make car seat covers.  After working on quilts, it was really wonderful to be able to start and finish a project in one or two days.  I just finished another one that isn't pictured this week for another newborn.

This one is for baby Lily.

This one is for baby Joshua.

The kids and Greg decided after the first two that we needed to make one for Maggie as well, so here is hers.  When she outgrows it, I want to use the fabrics to inspire a Farmers Wife Sampler quilt.

Bison at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge

Once we returned to Colorado we were able to be a part of a bison viewing bus tour at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. We heard a history of the wild American bison before heading out on our tour. The kids loved riding on the bus and looking through the binoculars. We saw quite a bit of wildlife, but the highlight for us was seeing Max and Deidre again after our long trip.

Max, Isaac, and Audrey sitting on the bus.

Deidre holding Hannah. Hannah could not get enough of her DeeDee.

The bison herd. We were able to see much better with our binoculars, but my camera does not zoom that far very clearly.

The view of downtown from the refuge.

The bird flying over this lake was a blue heron.

Another lake (after Lake Erie these lakes looked like ponds to us) on the refuge.

Random Dayton pics

Here are a few random pictures of our time in Dayton. I didn't take very many pictures here because I ran out of space on my camera. These were too cute to pass up.

At the end of a long, hot day we cooled off with some ice cream at Aunt Janellie's house. Here is the mess Audrey made with hers.

When all of the other cousins were busy playing, Audrey collected all of the necklaces so she could wear them.

Katie and Isaac enjoyed sitting on Papa Buzz's motorcycle.

COSI

While we were in Columbus we were able to visit COSI. Pookie brought Ben and Katie with her so we could see them. We only scratched the surface of the many different exhibits. The kids loved seeing their cousins and playing with so many new things.

Aunt Kimberly with Audrey.

Grandma Pookie, Hannah, Audrey, Isaac, and Katie.

Audrey and Hannah loved this. They could have played with this the entire time we were at the museum.

Hannah was using these controls to make different kinds of sounds.

Isaac was building a house.

Grandma Pookie, Ben, and Audrey play with electricity. Katie turns on the light switches.

Audrey shooting water.

Isaac was really good at aiming the water.

Lake Erie

This was the first time we have been able to show our children Lake Erie. They loved how big it was. Audrey and Hannah really loved swimming and Isaac loved looking for cool rocks.

Lake Erie at sunset from a hill.

Aunt Jennifer holds Isaac.

Beach by the park.

Isaac looking for the best rocks and shells.

This picture is grainy, but I love how it shows Audrey's and Hannah's excitement in swimming in the lake.

Geneva beach.

Janelle is holding Audrey and Jennifer is holding Hannah.

Isaac was so excited to see the beach and get a chance to go swimming.